Pasadena Public Library Construction

Construction on the Pasadena Public Library began on May 19, 1925. Myron Hunt and H.C. Chamber's designs for the library were chosen during a 1924 competition between nine architects vying for the commission. Competition judges included Dr. George E. Hale and artist Ernest A. Batchelder.

Plans for the Pasadena Public Library submitted by Myron Hunt, 

Pasadena Digital History Collaboration

Reading newspaper accounts during the early months of 1925 (namely the Pasadena Post) there was much drama inflicted towards the contractor (William Crowell); there were cantankerous members of the board of city directors; there were ill-feelings of some about the influence of Chicagoans in Pasadena's architectural plans (e.g the influence of the City Beautiful Movement and Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, plus Myron Hunt had gone to school in Chicago but moved to Southern California in 1903); and, according to the Pasadena Post, the architects appeared to disagree on the size of sand grain that should be used in the concrete (Hunt voted for fine grain while Chambers preferred coarse grain). Did I mention it rained the day they started construction?

Pasadena Evening Post [May 29, 1925]

The Pasadena Library did a wonderful job putting together Central Library's history and architecture on their website. 

Sadly, the Central Library is closed until further notice due to seismic safety issues. Looking forward to visiting it when it can reopen.

View of the Pasadena Public Library from the parking lot across the street (1930), 

Harold A. Parker Studio Collection of Negatives, Huntington Digital Library

Lennox Branch of the Los Angeles County Library Opens in Civic Center

Dedication of the Lennox Branch, the second county-owned building. [1948]

County of Los Angeles Public Library History

A new building for the Lennox Branch of the Los Angeles County Library was opened May 14, 1948. It was one of the four buildings that made up Lennox's Civic Center and the library later included a regional office. It was a small branch. Upon its opening, the Lennox Branch accommodated 16 adults and 16 children in the reading room according to a staff newsletter. The branch was quickly popular and more library cards were issued in the first month than the previous six months combined. By January 1950 a regional card catalog was installed that represented the holdings of nine branches in the area. The adult materials alone accounted for 40,000 cards in the catalog.

The branch closed in late 2012 for renovation and reopened April 11, 2014.

Before and after photos of the Lennox Branch (Photos by author)

Richard Henry Dana Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library

Richard Henry Dana Branch Library, [n.d], photo by Dick Whittington, 

Security Pacific National Bank Collection, 

Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection

On May 3, 1927 at 1p.m. the Richard Henry Dana Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library threw open its doors to the public at 3320 Pepper Avenue in Cypress Park. This branch, originally called the Dayton Avenue Branch, opened October 11, 1920 and closed April 30, 1927 to move into their new building. 

Information on the branch's history, available via tessa.lapl.org, includes a letter from the branch architect, Harry Sims Bent (best known for work in Honolulu and locally at the Arboretum). Bent described his thinking behind choosing the Colonial Style to fit in with the residential surroundings. He praised the style on its "simplicity, unpretentiousness, dignity and repose." 

(Left): Dayton Avenue Branch Library 

(507 West Avenue 28), [n.d], 

Security Pacific National Bank Collection, 

Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection

Photos in the late 1920s/early 1930s show the branch's popularity with children, a fact echoed by the aforementioned branch history. The building is now the Cypress Park Club House and the Cypress Park Branch Library is now at 1150 Cypress.

(Right): Children reading on the back patio of the library, [n.d],  Security Pacific National Bank Collection, Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection